This got me thinking. I wonder what it would look like if we kept a list of the top 10 or top 20 prospects year over year for the next few years. It's no stretch to think that the quality in the next 2 - 3 years is going to go up a lot.

Well even just from my completely unofficial rankings 6 of the top-10 are players that we've added since February. That's a pretty big injection of talent.

It borders on a full on transfusion. Other than Nylander and Brown, nearly everyone else brought in has bumped the old pool down a few tiers.

And I think that watching this will be more exciting than watching the big team on the ice for the next couple of years. I might prefer a Marlies game this year over a Leafs game and I suspect I am not alone on that.

The Maple Leafs believe they have a player similar to the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane in Marner, right down to the fact Kane also played junior with the London Knights. Like Kane, Marner is a highly skilled player who's gifted with the puck.

Toronto signed the 18-year-old to a three-year contract July 28. In two seasons with the Knights, the 5-foot-11, 160-pound center had 57 goals and 185 points in 127 games. Marner is considered a solid two-way player who does not shirk his defensive responsibilities and is aggressive with his stick.

The son of retired NHL forward Sami Kapanen is another of the Maple Leafs' small, skilled players; he's 5-foot-10 and 178 pounds. After playing most of last season in his native Finland, he joined the Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate to get a taste of North American hockey. Kapanen scored a goal and had an assist in four regular-season games, then had two goals and five points in five playoff games.

Goal-scoring is Kapanen's strong suit, but the 19-year-old is also a gifted playmaker who makes those around him better. He is a high-end skater with a quick release.

The 19-year-old Canadian-born son of former NHL forward Michael Nylander is a speedy center with excellent offensive skills. Like Kapanen, Nylander started last season playing in Europe but came to North America to play in the AHL.

Nylander (5-foot-11, 174 pounds) has above-average speed, good hands and likes to shoot the puck. He performed well for Sweden at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring three goals and 10 points in seven games. The Maple Leafs hope he will become more engaged physically as he fills out and matures.

Percy's greatest strength might be going unnoticed; for the type of game he plays, which is being smart with the puck, that's a good thing. The 22-year-old is a smooth-skating defender who makes few mistakes. He isn't overly physical but doesn't shy away from contact.

The 6-foot-1, 186-pound native of Oakville, Ontario, did not look out of place during a short stint with the Maple Leafs last season. He stays calm under pressure and is dependable at getting the puck out of the defensive zone.

Projected NHL arrival:2015-16

5. Frederik Gauthier, C[/close]

How acquired:[/color ] First round (No. 21), 2013 NHL Draft

Last season:Rimouski, QMJHL; 37 GP, 16-16-32

stands out from Toronto's other top prospects because of his size; he's 6-foot-5, 215 pounds. The 20-year-old center is not considered to have top-six potential, but his defensive skills and ability in the faceoff circle suggest he'll be a dependable third-liner.

Gauthier represented Canada in the past two WJC tournaments. His game has been described as mature, and his offense has potential. Gauthier skates well and uses his size to win puck battles.

Background - Dzierkals was drafted by Rouyn-Noranda from the Q in the CHL import draft a few weeks back. He has a few other options (including the AHL if he signs a contract), and is obviously not required to commit to his CHL team if he feels he is better served elsewhere.

"The Leafs' system has skyrocketed the past 12 months, following a great 2015 draft, key trades and progression from some prospects. Mitch Marner and William Nylander are true top-flight names, and they have a lot of depth in quality prospects, many of whom are in my top 100 overall NHL prospects column."

Andy McNamara: Last year, the Leafs were ranked 17th. This year, you have them all the way up to #2. Why?

Pronman: A lot has changed in the course of a year. The organization has made a clear direction change in terms of how they think they’re going to win, which is over the long term. They’ve also changed the emphasis on the kind of players they want to acquire. I think you look at how their 2015 draft went; they bulked assets in terms of trading down, and then took really upside/ceiling-type of players. You’re thinking of Travis Dermott, or guys like Jeremy Bracco, and some other guys in the later rounds. And then they obviously were big on getting prospects via trade. I really like Brendan Leipsic, the guy they got in the Cody Franson deal. We can talk for a long time about the Phil Kessel trade and whether or not it was equitable, but Kasperi Kapanen and Scott Harrington are very good prospects. Obviously they got Mitch Marner fourth overall; William Nylander, Connor Brown had very good seasons. You put all this together and the farm system looks dramatically different from 12 months ago.